Republic of Turkey, successor to Ottoman Empire once an almighty power in Europe and Middle East and Africa in particular has been the rising star in the region once again, for some time. In spite of all the harsh criticism targeted at the government, it would not be fair to ignore the efforts and performance of current Ak Parti administration headed by Prime Minister Erdoğan, especially following the most ...

Hannes Swoboda, the head of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, has condemned acts of terror in Turkey and accused the Iranian government of seeking to inflame tensions in its neighbor. "I condemn every act of terror and strongly believe that terror cannot be used as a means to attain your goals in today's world," Swoboda said in a recent speech in Vienna, delivered at the opening of th ...

The well-known CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour held an exclusive interview with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul in which the two discussed the 18-month crisis in Syria while also touching on a number of other topics, including weapons of mass destruction and the suspected nuclear program in Iran. When asked what he thought about the United States' involvement in solely providing "nonle ...

"The increased terror attacks in Turkey is the price for the country's support for the 'Syrian people,' according to Iraq's exiled vice president Tariq al-Hashemi. Escalation in the terrorist activities of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey is to be expected, because of Turkey's allying itself with the Syrian people against the al-Assad regime, fugitive Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashem ...

Ireland's minister for European affairs has said her country would support Turkey reach its membership goal during its term presidency of the European Union (EU). Irish Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton, met with Turkish EU Minister & Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis in capital Ankara on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters prior to the gathering, Creighton pointed to Ireland's taking ove ...

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced during the G20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, on Tuesday, to provide the IMF with $5 billion. The mentioned fund to be provided from the foreign exchange reserve of the Central Bank will be utilized to help to alleviate the worsening crisis in the euro zone. The Central Bank said yesterday that the contribution will be counted of Turkey's international reserves at ...

The İstanbul-based International Transporters Association (UND) on Thursday criticized an incentive package that was recently announced by the government, saying it does not provide any support to the land transportation segment of the logistics sector.The incentive package aims to stimulate the economy and reduce country’s current account deficit (CAD) by providing investments to certain industries and sec ...

Turkish treasury signs deal for $455.4 loan with World Bank The Turkish Treasury said Monday it had signed with the World Bank a $455.4 million deal under a program to support environmental sustainability and energy sector development. The deal with a maturity of 15.5 years and 8-year grace period was signed on April 6, the Treasury said. The loan will be used to fund reforms aimed at sustainable environmen ...

Friends' Group: SNC a legitimate representative of Syrian people A communique was issued today by a meeting of mainly Arab and Western governments in Istanbul giving full support to U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's peace mission while stressing that it cannot be open-ended. The communique also recognized the legitimacy of steps taken by the Syrian people to defend themselves, Reuters reported. Conference ...

Izmir chamber of commerce ready to give a helping hand to Greece Izmir Chamber of Commerce (ITO) Chairman Ekrem Demirtas offered a helping hand to Greece, saying that Turkey and Greece should further integrate their economies, open borders and invest together. Demirtas also said that following the elections to be held in Greece in May, the chamber would like to hold the 10th Turkish-Greek Economic Summit" i ...

Murdoch demands support from Erdogan US media giant Rupert Murdoch has demanded support from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a meeting at the Prime Minister's office yesterday, saying that they look for expanding their investments. "We regard Turkey as a significant country in terms of media sector. We aspire to increase our investments here," Murdoch said, adding that he has been active in Turkey's ...

Turkish economy minister said on Tuesday that Turkish Eximbank would provide a loan of 250 million USD to Libya. Delivering a speech at the opening of the Turkey-Libya Business Forum in Tripoli, Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan said that he believed Libya would improve democracy and upgrade economic living standards in a very short period of time. Turkey and Turkish businessmen were resolute to keep supporti ...

Republican People’s Party leader Kılıçdaroğlu criticizes Prime Minister Erdoğan’s support for a probe into the main oppostion leader. ‘The victim of yesterday has become the oppressor of today’ says Kılıçdaroğlu Main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu harshly denounced yesterday the prime minister for backing a prosecution attempt to put him on trial as a war of words raged on between the two. “The prime ...

Turkey enjoys positive economical indicators achieved in 2011 showing its unavoidable rise to become the shining star of Europe (and the world) by 2023. In fact, the government officials have announced that the export target for 2012 is forecasted as US$ 149 billion with an increase of approximately 10 percent as compared to US$ 132 billion in 2011. When we look at the economies in Europe particularly, we c ...

We have witnessed a very extraordinary year in 2011 and we are obviously going to live through a more challenging year in 2012 as there are so many conflicts to attend to in all parts of the world not to forget a new global crisis waiting at our door. Only with self awareness displayed by our “human” brothers and sisters and conscience – a virtue gifted by God to human – may we be able to cope with the toug ...

Eleven EU foreign ministers praised Turkey and supported its EU application process in an article published on the EUobserver news portal. The article signed by foreign ministers of Lithuania, Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Estonia and the U.K. said, “Turkey is an important partner as a new economic powerhouse for the single market and a growing regional powe ...

Newly elected Libyan PM grateful to Turkey Abdurrahim al-Keib, the newly elected Prime Minister of Libya's Interim National Transition Council, said yesterday that they would establish a cabinet consisting of technocrats and expressed their willingness to become a positive power in world politics. Al-Keib said that both the Turkish government and Turkish people have always stood in solidarity with Libyan pe ...

Germany should pay heed to its large Turkish community and throw its support behind Ankara's EU entry bid, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan told German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday."Turkey wishes that Germany would be its biggest supporter in its EU membership bid," Erdoğan said. "We want a very different kind of support... We have a special relationship." He was speaking at a ceremony attende ...

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan slammed Germany on Tuesday for becoming “an accessory” to the campaign of terror launched by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist organization in Turkey. “Those who tolerate terrorism become an accessory to the bloody face of terrorism,” Erdoğan said without naming Germany in a speech delivered in Berlin during a gala dinner to mark the 50th anniversary of ...

Dozens of well-known Turkish rock acts, including Anatolian Rock giants Moğollar and popular alternative rockers Mor ve Ötesi, are joining forces for a charity concert on Sunday in İstanbul, the proceeds of which will be used as earthquake relief for Van. “Van İçin Rock” (Rock for Van) is an independent initiative that came about through the efforts of the participating musicians, without any corporate invo ...

The Arab world has been going through some turm-oil for a while. Many countries including USA, UK, France in the first place seem to have major interests in the recent events. This we know has to do with benefits such as getting a big share from the the oil reserves in said Arab countries, mainly. Turkey on the other hand has been giving the world the message it is only concerned in seeing to it that democr ...

The president of the Turkish Red Crescent has admitted to problems in coordination and a shortage of tents following criticism in the wake of the Van earthquake, but has defended the agency’s stock policy. “Under normal circumstances, we have never faced such a great demand for tents in any disaster. But people are refusing to go to the tent-cities we established and are asking to pitch tents in their garde ...

The victims of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake which has hit the eastern province of Van in Turkey on Sunday will be able to utilize the emergency support loan which has been granted by the government for artisans and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) affected by natural disasters. Science, Industry and Technology Minister Nihat Ergun yesterday stressed that they were ready for helping the enterprises wh ...